It’s been a long time coming, a very long time. skate. is here.
The lower-case name, followed by a full-stop is driving me crazy as I try and write about it.
My SEO brain is going wild. But, more importantly my skater-game brain is getting a nice scratch on that very specific itch, right now.
For years, every EA E3 press conference was filled with chants of “Skate 4!”. It’s finally here, sort of.
The new Skate is out in early access, and I’ve been grinding away to see if it lives up to the hype. After a few hours, I have some thoughts. So grab a coffee, and let’s talk about the new Skate called “skate.”.
The good stuff
Let’s start with what makes skate, well, skate.
The core gameplay is still as good as ever. The “flick-it” controls are back and feel more intuitive than ever.
If you’re a veteran or coming to the series for the first time, you’ll be landing kickflips and popping shoves in no time.
For the pros, there’s still a high skill ceiling to master those inward heels and laser flips.
Transition skating is where the game truly shines. With a fluidity to carving a bowl that no other skating game has managed to replicate. It just feels right.
I spent a good chunk of my time just cruising the streets, vibing to my own Spotify playlist and ignoring the missions. And you know what? It felt great.
Not to take away from the sound design and the soundtrack of skate. but it is truly a podcast game. Zone out as you try to perfect a line, and just absorb the bare minimum in the background as you focus.
The not-so-good stuff
It’s not all smooth sailing. The game is in early access, and it shows.
The textures can be a bit rubbery, I’ve encountered my fair share of weird glitches, and the UI is a bit wonky.
It feels less like a finished game and more like a fun novelty to drop into for a bit.
The game also has a weird obsession with multiplayer.
It constantly pushes you to play with others, and it feels like it’s a bit miffed if you just want to skate solo.
For a series that was so good at creating a single-player sandbox, this feels like a step in the wrong direction.
Let’s talk about the character models. They have this weird, cartoony art style that just doesn’t sit right. It feels like they are going for a Fortnite vibe, and it just clashes with the realistic feel of the skating.
The grind
The biggest worry for many has been the free-to-play model and the potential for pay-to-win mechanics. The good news is that there are no pay-to-win aspects. All the unlocks are purely cosmetic, and you can earn them without opening your wallet.
However, the game is seriously lacking in content right now. Franchise staples like S.K.A.T.E., death races, and vert competitions are all missing.
For a game called skate. Not having a game of S.K.A.T.E. is a massive oversight.
Should you drop in?
Is the new skate. worth your time?
As a free-to-play title, the barrier to entry is nonexistent. The core gameplay is solid, and there’s fun to be had, especially if you have a group of friends to skate with.
But if you’re a solo player looking for a polished, content-rich experience, you might want to wait a bit.
The game has a solid foundation, but it’s still very much a work in progress.
EA has a roadmap of content they plan to add, so hopefully, the game will feel more complete in the coming months.
For now, I’d say give it a try. It won’t cost you anything, and you might just have some fun.
But temper your expectations. This isn’t the Skate 4 we’ve been dreaming of for all these years, at least not yet.
For more quick look game reviews, click right here.
